MRE's And Freeze Dried Food

Survival Food & Backcountry Grub

Eating five-star restaurant caiiber after a hunt is easier than you think. We field tested several off the shelf options plus created our own.

An army marches on its stomach. So said Napoleon. The same principle can be applied to the hunter who spends the season well past the parking lot. An extended backcountry hunt requires much advance planning, and a lot of that forethought should go into what kind of sustenance will keep the hunter going, especially on extremely difficult hunts for elk, sheep, caribou, and bear. Without proper nutrition, a hunter could crash in the backcountry and end up eating nothing but tag soup.

No doubt about it: A hunter is going to lose weight on a backcountry hunt, but maintaining enough energy to climb that mountain day after day requires maximum caloric intake. The most common option comes in the form of foil pouches prepackaged with freeze-dried meals. They offer simple, just-add-water preparation and high calories, if not always the best in nutrition. Cheaper alternatives include making your own dehydrated meals and relying on those classic foods that have kept hunters going for decades.

In my opinion, the best backcountry meal plan incorporates all three. By mixing-and-matching pieces from each category, hunters can create a healthy and tasty meal plan that's sure to satisfy. Done right, a hunter increases the odds of coming back from a hunt with a full belly and heavy pack.

OFF THE SHELF BIG HITTERS

MOUNTAIN HOUSE

The biggest name in freeze-dried foods got its start with a military contract to feed soldiers during Vietnam. After the conflict, a burgeoning backpacking movement made them the popular choice for eating far from the trailhead. That half-century history, along with home-cooked flavors, makes them the proven leader, but don't expect anything fancy.

PROS

Easy.

Calorie dense.

Nuclear-winter shelf life.

CONS

Basic recipes.

High sodium content.

Not inexpensive.

FAVORITES

Beef Stroganoff, Sweet & Sour Pork, Biscuits & Gravy

ALPINEAIRE

Founded in 1979, the company has fostered a younger, hipper following in recent years with several rebranding efforts. Don't let all that flash sway you, however, as they make some pretty mean meals, combining both freeze-dried and dehydrated ingredients into each stand-and-fill pouch. A wide range of products include meals that are all natural, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and, for the hunter who is really confused, vegan.

PROS

Slim packaging.

Wide selection.

Healthy (relatively).

CONS

Bland.

Vegan options.

FAVORITES

Black Bart Chili, Beef Burrito Bowl, Cinnamon Apple Crisp

BACKPACKER'S PANTRY

The old lady of the bunch, Backpacker's Pantry started its life feeding Girl Scoutsin 1951. Now a dominant player in the freeze-dried food category, it caters to those who demand lightweight, flavorful food options. Among the Big 3, they come in a solid third place in terms of taste, with problems when it comes to cooking time and rehydration. Also, they have donated to Defenders of Wildlife in the past, and company statements regarding support of hunting are noncommittal. Be warned.

PROS

Lightweight Interesting recipes.

Bold flavors.

CONS

Inconsistent rehydration.

Sketchy support for hunters.

FAVORITES

Coconut Beans & Rice, Chicken Vindaloo, Creme Brutee

FREEZE-DRIED VS. DEHYDRATED

Making food lightweight, packable, and shelf-stable means removing the bulk of its moisture. There are two ways to go about that: freeze-drying and dehydrating. Each has benefits and downsides. Here's a quick and dirty look at the difference.

Freeze-Drying

Food is placed under vacuum and subjected to super cold temperatures, where the water turns to vapor I and dissipates. It requires special, expensive equipment, which often translates to the high price of the end product. However, the process removes up to 98 percent of the water, resulting in lighter overall weight and preserves most vitamins and nutrients. Freeze-dried foods also reconstitute much quicker and, according to most hunters, taste better.

Dehydrating

Done by exposing food to low to moderate heat and, typically, moving air. Dehydration can be done at home in an oven or commercial dehydrator or under the sun, making it a less expensive option than freeze-dried foods. Most dehydrated food tends to shrink or shrivel when moisture is removed, resulting in a smaller end product. Some nutrients are lost due to heat exposure, and rehydration times are often much longer.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

HEATHER'S CHOICE

As an evolutionary sports nutritionist and certified psychology of eating coach, founder Heather Kelly knows a few things about food. Lucky for us, she's also an adventurer and turned that knowledge into a company producing some of the most innovative grub for the backcountry. Killer ingredients include quail, wild sockeye salmon, and nilgai, giving these delicious meals some real-world street cred. The portions are a bit smaller, especially for hunters who spend all day on the trail of an elk herd.

PROS

Wild-game options.

Quality ingredients.

Lightweight packaging.

CONS

Smallish servings.

Pricey.

FAVORITES

Smoked Sockeye Chowder, Mom's Pasghetti, Five-Spice Packaroons

GOODTOGO

When a four-star chef decides to go backpacking, the results are probably the closest youll come to made-at-home flavors and consistency on a backcountry hunt They're made from all fresh ingredients that have been dehydrated (not freeze-dried) with quality herbs and spices. Lower in sodium than most other options on the market with no additives or preservatives. A small kitchen does limit choices to just a few.

PROS

Best tasting.

Excellent consistency.

Fresh flavors.

CONS

Long rehydration time.

Limited selections.

Expensive.

FAVORITES

Thai Curry, Smoked Three-Bean Chili

PALEO MEALS TO GO

Today, the backcountry is awash with hunter-athletes, who spend the off-season doing CrossFit, eating paleo, and preaching the benefit of both to everyone within earshot. Now they've got something new to brag about: an entire line of dehydrated meals designed around the paleo diet. Heavy on protein and good fat, low in carbs and sugar, these are perfect for fitness fanatics or anyone who wants and needs to eat clean on hunts far from the trailhead.

PROS

Ingredients you can pronounce.

Real food texture.

Paleo.

CONS

Expensive.

Slim portions.

Paleo.

FAVORITES

Summit Savory Chicken, Cliffside Coconut Berry

THE REST OF THE BEST

There are at least a dozen other food companies hunters might come acrossin their search for healthy, filling, and flavorful meals for hunts deep in the woods. MaryJanesFarm, Patagonia Provisions, and Packit Gourmet are three brands with niche popularity. Sandwich lovers might stash a few of the scary-looking, but not horrible, options from Bridgford, and, of course, there's always the standard mil-spec MREs for those operators who miss the taste of the sandbox.

DIY DINNER, BREAKFAST & LUNCH

For short-term hunts beyond the trailhead, grabbing a few freeze-dried packages off the shelf is often an easy option. On longer hunts, those from four to fourteen days, buying a packload of Mountain House meals gets expensive. The thing is, making your own backcountry meals is simpler than you think and doesn't require a lot of extra equipment. They do take time, but the benefits—in terms of both cost and health—are worth it, as is the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

MAKE-AT-HOME MEAL TIPS

Have fun experimenting with recipes, but sample everything before the hunt. Five miles from the trailhead isn't the time to find out your concoction is inedible or, worse yet, causes explosive diarrhea.

Count calories. A hard day of hunting burns up to 6,000 calories that you'll need to replace. Opt for carbs and fats that are calorie-dense. Aim for 100 calories per ounce.

When planning a make-at-home meal, start with a carbohydrate base and build around it with vegetables, fats, and spices.

When it comes to what kinds of meals to make at home, the only limit is your imagination. Sure, a grilled steak dinner complete with baked potato might be tough, but youll have a close approximation by mixing some sliced-up elk jerky with a pack of potato flakes. Since you'll typically be adding boiling water to rehydrate your ingredients, it helps to think in terms ofsoups,stews, and other moist dishes. From there, memorable backcountry meals just require a trip to the grocery store and some time to dehydrate and package everything together.

Drying food doesn't require special equipment, and most meals can be made in a standard home oven. Hunters who plan to get serious about making backcountry meals at home should invest in a high-quality dehydrator. Commercial-grade models, such as those sold by Cabela's, allow hunters to dry food in large batches and are mostly hassle-free. Cheaper models work, but they could require rotating trays to ensure everything dries evenly and take some babysitting to prevent under - or overcooking.

Don't overlook the grocery store when planning a backcountry hunt. You'll find meal ideas in almost every aisle, from quick-cooking rice and noodle dishes to spice packets and packable condiments (which you can also pilferfrom fast-food joints). Specialty stores and natural food grocers often sell dried fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients in bulk, lowering the cost and saving time for those who don't want to dehydrate their own food.

Some meals can be made first then dehydrated together, but because moisture content is different for every ingredient, the results are often lackluster. It makes more sense to dry everything separately and then assemble the meals after, which also gives you more options in terms of recipes. During the off-season, dehydrate diced or minced vegetables and cooked meat in big batches and then store them in airtight jars. When hunting season rolls around, spend a day or two putting together individual mealsfrom these ingredients and prepackaging them in vacuum-sealed or zip-top bags.

CLASSIC FARE

Jerky - Humans have been living on dried meat for centuries, and nothing beats fueling up on the flesh of the game you're after. Skip the store-bought stuff and make your own.

Peanut Butter - High in fat and calories, it's the original energy goo. Fill squeezable tubes at home or find single-serving packets at the grocery. Justin's Nut Butters are a favorite.

GORP - Good ol' Raisins and Peanuts. A fistful of trail mix will power you up that last incline. Create a personalized batch with M&Ms, coconut flakes, and other adds.

Energy Gels - Too bad no one really knows what's in these, but they're fast fuel for hunters on the go.

Sports Bars - PowerBar, Clif Bar, Luna. Whatever name they go by, sports bars are a must-have for hunters, even if one just lives in the bottom of your pack for several seasons.

Powdered Drinks - From hot cocoa to Gatorade, some type of drink flavoring is a welcome taste after drinking nothing but creek water for a week.

Hard Candy - Say sorry to your elk guide after whiffing that shot with a token gift of a cinnamon disk or a butterscotch.

Cheese - Hard cheeses, such as manchego, Cheddar, and pecorino wrapped in wax paper, will last a lot longer than you think.

Pemmican - Made from pounded, dried meat, nuts, and berries, it's - the original granola bar.

Bourbon - Whether for celebrating success or drowning sorrows, a small flask is worth the extra weight.

Snacks in packs

ABOVE : Scroggin, trail mix or other nibbles are not simply snacks for eating around the campfire at the end of the day - they are invaluable parts of your 'stay-alive' and 'just-in-case' kits.

This column rarely mentions food, mainly because most hunters are usually in a situation where nourishment is in good supply - even though the rabbit might not yet have been roasted. However, several recent cases of individuals becoming lost in the outback, dressed in light clothing and with absolutely no water or rations, has set me thinking oncc again about what grub my mates and I carry in our pockets and in our 'stay-alive' kits 'just in case'.

There is some contention over the origin and derivation of the word 'scroggin', which describes a mix of nuts, dried fruit and chocolate that, as scouts, many of us carried in our pockets during hikes and weekend camping trips.

Americans and Europeans disagree over the starting point of this word, but most sources agree that the term scroggin originated in one of these countries sometime in the 1940s. I remember a few instances of an otherwise very tolerant mother being quite threatening over melted chocolate in the pockets of bush clothes, but that was well before self-sealing plastic bags were common on supermarket shelves.

And speaking of supermarkets, one of the big chain outlets carries ready-mixed assortments of scroggin with names such as 'tropical mix', which does not mean where you might take it, but rather refers to where the selection of fruit chunks in the mix comc from. Sad, that. In hot weather and stifling places, the chocolate still melts, unless you are a 'smartie' and use sugar-coated chocolate pieces in your mix.

Generally, one of our hunting team is nominated as the chef for each trip and they recruit an offsider to assist. Together, they arrange the menu and do the group's shopping. Individuals are responsible for their own drinks and extras. You can probably guess that we have a strict 'no drinking' rule until the hunt has concluded for the day and all of the party is back in camp.

Sitting around yarning after the day's hunt and having a pre-dinner drink seems to be a good time to pass around your bag of nibbles for comment and criticism. There is generally plenty of discussion on the pros and cons of ingredients and the composition of the whole mix. I always receive a lot of flak because there is a bit of preserved ginger in my recipe and not everyone likes it.

While supermarkets generally have all the nuts and fruit that you might want in the 'nibbles' aisle, try searching the cooking shelves too, where you might save some money and, of course, the snack bar aisle of every store has hundreds of ready-made pre-packaged choices. My favourite shopping place is the health food store because they have a wide range of nuts, dried fruit and fruit leather that I love - including bulk crystallised ginger.

No-one ever leaves our hunting camp without something to nibble in their pocket and at least one full water bottle. Although, two of the group prefer bladder-type water carriers that almost double as small backpacks.

The water we carry might become a little warm during the hunt, but it still quenches your thirst. Happily, none of us has been pushed so far in the past few years to have to spend a night or two in the scrub relying on just what was carried for the day. Despite our good fortune, I don't think any one of our group would want to leave camp for a day's hunting among the breakaways without their simple 'stay-alive' kits.

Managing Emergency Food Supplies

Make sure that you have enough food to last your family for at least three months. There are various companies that sell food designed for long-term storage. Another way to build a supply is to buy an extra couple cans or jars each time you go to the store.

Rotate your food supply through the food you use normally to keep it fresh, but always replace it so you never use your entire supply. Be sure to include any special needs in your supply, such as baby formula, prescription medicine and pet food.

As you build your food storage, be mindful of how much cooking your food will require. Unless you decide to live off dehydrated camping food, you will need to have either a backyard grill or a camping stove, and the appropriate fuel to power it, in order to prepare meals.

Bottled water is a precious commodity during any emergency. We had cases of water stored with the rest of our food. Once power was restored to our workplaces, we could fill up water bottles there. Ice could be brought inside and melted, and then purified with iodine tablets or by boiling.

We used as little water as possible for bathing, relying mostly on baby wipes and hand sanitizer. I would use leave-in camping shampoo to wash my hair. As power was restored to various parts of the city, we would go to friends' houses to shower.

Bottled water that hasn't been opened doesn't have an expiration date. If you use containers that have been opened, such as water coolers or jugs, check them periodically to make sure the water is still fresh and uncontaminated. The average adult needs approximately half a gallon of water a day for drinking.

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